Correlations of genetic polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand gene and its plasma phenotype with ulcerative colitis

To explore the correlations of genetic polymorphisms in tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) gene and the plasma levels of soluble TRAIL (sTRAIL) with ulcerative colitis (UC). From May 2004 to April 2011, a total of 393 UC patients were recruited from Second and First Affiliated Hospitals of Wenzhou Medical College and Second Renmin Hospital of Wenzhou City. During the same period, a total of 1292 healthy controls were recruited from Physical Examination Center at Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College. After PCR amplification, the genetic polymorphisms in TRAIL (G1525A, G1588A, C1595T) genes were examined by direct sequencing, and the haplotype analysis were also performed in all study subjects. Furthermore, the plasma levels of sTRAIL were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The frequencies of variant genotypes in TRAIL (G1525A, G1588A, C1595T) genes were significantly lower in the UC patients than those in the controls (all P < 0.01). Both of v